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Doug Oatley - Director Doug Oatley is a retired band director who, during his 31 years in the public schools, specialized in jazz performance and jazz theory. As a bass trombonist, he played with Stan Kenton, worked as a studio musician in New York City, played in the orchestra for “A Chorus Line”, and has backed up celebrities such a Bob Hope, Vickie Carr, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. He is an accomplished composer and arranger whose work has appeared in a variety of venues including 88 jingles for T.V. and Radio and orchestrations for 14 albums of various artists. The MetroGnomes are the current beneficiaries of his writing and conducting skill and include in their repertoire a number of his compositions and arrangements. In addition to all this, he is a hot rod enthusiast who buys, sells, and restores classic cars. |
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David Webster- Alto Sax David Webster plays sax, clarinet and flute. He lives in Georgetown, KY and graduated from Morehead State University during the jazz fusion era but thinks he belonged in the bop and cool eras. Born in Lexington, KY, he has played in church or anywhere else he can. His day gig is the Chief Financial Officer at ENTRAN, an engineering company headquartered in Lexington. Although an Accountant by day, David has a Jazz addiction that is currently under control but, with close supervision, Gail, his wife of well over 2 decades has allowed him to test the waters again with the MetroGnomes. David has two grown children, a son-in-law and a grand puppy Chihuahua named Ellie who is currently being jazz trained. |
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Pam Schneider - Baritone Sax Pamela is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Merchandising. During her time there she had opportunities to play saxophone with a variety of musical groups including the wind ensemble, the orchestra, the choir, and Saxophobia. While primarily an alto player, she fell in love with playing bari in the jazz band and Saxophobia. She works at Don Wilson Music as a salesperson and a bookkeeper. |
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Kevin Dennison - Tenor Sax Kevin’s second career
is as an instrument repair technician. He repairs woodwind and orchestra
instruments in a shop at his home and
for Hurst Music in Lexington, where he is a part-time employee. He
has twice been invited to Mexico to teach instrument repair to area
band
directors and musicians in Queretaro and Fresnillo. He gigs in the
central Kentucky area with a variety of groups including The MetroGnomes
and
Big City Groove. He lives in Lexington with his wife Ellen, an orchestra
teacher in Fayette County. Together they spend as much time as possible
spoiling their 6 grandchildren. |
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Doug Begley- Tenor
Sax
Doug Begley retired in 2005 from the 202D Army Band after 26 years as lead saxophone player. He attended Eastern Kentucky University in music and business, and later graduated from the University of Kentucky in psychology. His other musical activities include performing with the Capital City Community Band and small ensemble work. His favorite performers are Stan Getz, Stan Kenton, Ted Nash, and Dave Brubeck. |
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Willow Cooper - Baritone Sax Willow is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. During her time there she had the opportunity to play baritone saxophone in one of the UK saxophone quartets. Even before college she played baritone saxophone in the Henry Clay High School jazz band. She also participated in the UK Wind Ensemble, UK Symphony Band, UK Concert Band, UK Marching Band, UK Pep Band, UK Women's Choir, UK Clarinet Choir, and was the uniform manager for four years. Other activities include playing clarinet in the orchestra at Tates Creek Christian Church, directing the bell choir, and singing on the praise team. Willow is currently pursuing her Master's in Music Education at the University of Kentucky, working as an assistant band director at Beaumont Middle School, and teaching private lessons. |
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Dan Long - Trombone Dan studied music in college before changing his major to Law Enforcement and becoming a State Trooper. He continued his love of playing the trombone as a member of the 202nd Army Band for 31 years. He currently plays in the the brass section at his church and for various charitable groups. His favorite musicians are Carl Fontana,Frank Rosolino,Gordon Goodwin and Rob McConnell. Dan considers it an honor to have the opportunity to play with such a talented and dedicated group of people as the MetroGnomes. |
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Chase Clark- Trombone Chase Clark is currently in his last semester at the University of Kentucky studying Music Education. He is originally from Rineyville, KY near Elizabethtown. During his time at the University of Kentucky he has performed with the Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Band, Marching Band, and Trombone Choir. Also, during his time at UK he has performed with such artists as trombone soloist Scott Hartman, New York jazz artist/composer Michael Davis, and big band leader/composer Bob Mintzer. He also had the privilege of recording with the UK Jazz Ensemble and Bob Mintzer. His musical interest varies from jazz, funk, rock, soul, and classical to folk and bluegrass. Upon graduation at UK he hopes to teach music in the Lexington area. |
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Mark Mungillo - Trombone Mark's musical interests are Classical, big band, and brass bands/ensembles. He studied accounting at Asbury College, and participated in the College's brass ensemble and stage band under the direction of Dr. Ron Holz. Mark's favorite musicians include Handel, Holst, Copeland, and Tchaikovsky. He also likes the Basie and Ellington big bands, and loves to listen to the music and message of the Salvation Army Staff band. |
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Austin Bralley -
Bass Trombone Austin is a student at the University of Kentucky pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education. He is originally from the Elizabethtown area. Austin plays in the UK Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Trombone Choir, and Marching Band. Austin is in his 2nd year as the trombone section leader in the Wildcat Marching Band. In the summer of 2007 Austin marched in the world renowned Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois. In his spare time Austin arranges music for brass quintet. |
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Kenny Knauer -
Trumpet Kenny is a native Kentuckian who likes a variety of music including jazz, rock, R&B, funk, alternative, blues and classical. Some of his favorite jazz musicians include Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. Kenny also plays in the funk/r&b band Funk Seminary and has played in the Southland Christian orchestra since 1991. Kenny enjoys spending his spare time with his wife & his pet parrot, traveling and riding motorcycles. |
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Kyle Morris
- Trumpet Kyle is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Music Industry. While at MTSU, he was an active participant in the university's Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Salsa Band, and acclaimed Band of Blue Marching Band. Kyle worked in Nashville for a music publishing company upon graduating and decided to head back to school. He now attends the University of Kentucky College of Law in hopes of becoming an entertainment lawyer. His musical influences include Miles Davis, Bela Fleck, Frank Sinatra, Frank Ticheli, and Tower of Power. |
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David Salas - Trumpet |
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Dr. Milton Lowe - Trumpet |
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Larry Crawford - Piano Larry Crawford studied piano performance at The Cleveland Institute of Music and music ministry/education at Alderson-Broaddus College. He enjoys teaching kids to learn the wonders of music: from accompanying many local public schools to private lessons or seminars. His greatest influences are God and his wife, Ellen: both have taught him more than any textbook ever could. |
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Kristen Tabor - Bass |
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Lee Sabel - Drums/Percussion Lee Sabel has been playing drums for 33 years, and boy, are his arms tired. He attended Morehead State University with a music scholarship, majoring in percussion performance from 1983 to 1986. He attended Percussion Institute of Technology (PIT) in Hollywood, CA. from 1989 to 1990, and graduated with “Vocational Honors” – their highest award at that time, and was chosen “Outstanding Student of the Year” by his instructors. From 1990 to present, Lee has lived in and around Lexington, playing professionally with many different groups and projects. Presently he performs regularly with Handsome Devils (classic/contemporary hard rock/dance), Zydeco Bon (zydeco/blues – Cajun-Louisiana Music), The MetroGnomes (17 piece big band), and Big City Groove (9-piece “horn band” – jazz/rock/soul). He loves having the rare opportunity to play all those different styles of music concurrently. From 1991 to present, Lee has been employed at Hurst Music in Lexington. In addition to being a percussion sales specialist and current general manager, he also assumed the duties of head band instrument repair technician in 1994, and over the years has expanded the repair shop into one of the largest in the state, with a large and loyal customer base. Lee repairs woodwinds, brass and percussion.
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J.R. Weddle - Guitar |